Car-coupling



UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE,

FREDERICK STITZEL, OF LOUISVILLE, KENTUCKY.

CAR-COUPLING.

srncrrron'rron forming part of Letters Patent no. 283,681, dated August 21, 1883, I Application filed January 19,1883. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern: I

Be it known that I, FREDERICK STITZEL, a citizen of the United States, residing at Louisville, in the county of Jefferson and State of Kentucky, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Gar-Couplings, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

The object of this invention is to improve the construction ofpin-and-link carcouplings; and the invention consists in a draw-head provided with a longitudinal vertical slot, in which plays a tongue peculiarly hinged to a supporting-spring and combined with a springcheck to retain the pin for engagement with the link, and to hold the link in a horizontal plane in the draw-head, all as hereinafter specified and claimed.

The drawing shows opposite draw-heads of my construction, in one 'of which the pin is held elevated ready to receive the link, and in the other the link is in position toenter the first.

The draw-heads may be of any approved pattern, and as all mine are substantially'alike I will describe but one. This draw-head a has a longitudinal v'ertic'al slot, 5., cut in the top wall of its link-cavity, and projecting into this slot is a stout spring, 0, attached to the drawhead and lying fiat upon the top of the drawhead. The fore end of this spring is upwardly curved and terminates in a circular knob, d,

which knob forms a pivot upon which issocketed by the overlapping projection e a tongue,

3 5 f, the upper end whereof extends up into the slot 6, and the lower end projects into the opening or mouth of the draw-head vertically. Thistongue f, so pivoted, has thus a free backand-forth movement, and also a rising-andfalling capacity, the tendency of the'spring being to depress and hold the tongue down. A spring, h, attached to the spring 0, engages a notch, i, in the rear upper corner of the tongue, and tends to throw the lower end of the tongue outward toward the opening in the draw-head, as shown in the figure at the lefthand side of the sheet, and'this normal position of the tongue, in connection with the shoulder 5, serves to retain the pin in the elevated position to receive the incoming link,

As the link enters against the force of spring 0, passes under the p squared bottom I of the said tongue, whereby it (the said link) is held in a horizontal position. So soon as the link strikes the tongue f and moves it toward the back of the drawhead cavity the pin falls through the link into position in the pinholes in the draw-head to secure the link and couple the cars.

The 'figure at the right or upper side of the sheet of drawing shows the link held in position by the tongue and pin. The spring 0 rises to permit the tongue to work with links of different thickness. 7

The spring 71. may be dispensed with, and as the tongue f is hinged at its forward end gravity will be suihcient, with the weight of.

the tongue, to keep the tongue forward to hold up the pin. g

A very slight reconstruction is all that is required to apply my invent-ion to couplings already in use.

The link is held horizontal to facilitate coupling, and as held in the position indicated it is free to yield upwardly or downwardly to pressure, and hence is self-adapting to various heights'of couplings.

\Vhat I claim is- 1. A draw-head provided with a longitudinal vertical slot in its top wall over its linkcavity, combinedwith a spring fastened by one end, and a tongue pivoted to the free end of said spring and playing in said slot, and adapted to swing forward toward the mouth of the draw-head to hold up the pin for coupling, and also to clamp the link beneath itto hold it in horizontality for convenience in coup ling, substantially as described.

2. The draw-head provided with a longitudinal vertical'slot in the top wall of its link cavity, a spring attached to the draw-head and extended into the slot, the tongue f, pivoted to said spring, and provided with a notched rear upper corner, and a supplemental spring attached to the mainspring and en- J p I 283,681

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand'this 17th day of January, A. D. 1883.

FREDERICK STITZEL.

gaging thenotched corner of thetongue to I throw such tongue outward to hold the pinup for coupling, substantially as described.

3. In a car-coupling, the spring 0, provided 5 with the knob d, combined with the tongue f, Vitnesses;

having the overlapping projection or socket e, l S. MAAs,

substantially'as and for the purpose described. I ISAAC SMALL. 

